One section of dual carriageway is to be reduced to single lanes

Archie Norman, MP for Tunbridge Wells, has fought for sections of the road, which passes through his constituency, to be made dual carriageway.

Mr Norman has told the BBC that ministers have said more consultation is needed before a decision is made.

The Tory MP is due to meet the Highways Agency to discuss the road on Friday.

'Amazingly disjointed'

Campaigners had hoped work on dualling the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury and Pembury and Lamberhurst would be completed by 2008 or 2009.

But Mr Norman, who has described the road as dangerous and "amazingly disjointed", fears work will not even be started by then.

He said transport ministers had told him they need to consult with the South of England Regional Assembly before work can go ahead, a process likely to take at least a year.

It was announced last year that one section of the road which is dualled - at Lowell on the Kent and East Sussex border - is to be made single carriageway because of safety concerns.